Meldrem, Donna J. 1932-2011

MELDREM, PETERSEN, VAN DRASKA DVORAK, WALLER, FRASIER, OBRIEN

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 2/10/2012 at 12:36:47

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; April 11, 2011

DONNA J. MELDREM

Donna Van Draska Meldrem, 78, of Grinnell, died Thursday, April 7, 2011, surrounded by her family at Grinnell Regional Medical Center.

A funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 12, at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell with the Rev. Susan Sanning, Grinnell Regional Hospice Chaplain, officiating. Interment will be at Hazelwood Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 1 until 8 p.m. Monday at the Smith Funeral Home and the family will be present to greet friends from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. Monday evening.

Memorials may be designated to Donna J. Meldrem Memorial Fund, PO Box 368, Grinnell, Iowa 50112. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.smithfh.com.

Donna was born Nov. 14, 1932 in Grinnell to Arthur Van Draska and Eleanor Petersen. She was raised in Grinnell and graduated from Grinnell High School with the Class of 1952.

She was united in marriage with Raymond Meldrem on Sept. 6, 1952, in Grinnell. The couple lived in Grinnell all of their lives and Donna was employed at the Longhorn Restaurant and Davis Elementary School. Her enjoyments were traveling, going for walks, solving puzzles, gardening and tending to her flowers.

Donna is survived by her husband of 58 years, Raymond; children Steve Meldrem of Grinnell, Debra Dvorak of Ruidoso, N.M., Lonnie Meldrem of Grinnell and Wade Meldrem of Grinnell; seven grandchildren; five great grandchildren; and her siblings, Ruth Waller of Mesquite, Texas, Shirley Frasier of Mineola, Texas, Helen O'Brien of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Jim Van Draska of Grinnell.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents; and her brothers, Richard and Dale Van Draska.